Detailing

[Smartiepants]

First of all, browse through the detailing forums at vortex, they have tons of stuff there.

Detailing Forums

So I have found that if your car has clear coat, and is in fairly good condition, which I would assume covers most of the people here that you need some sort of the following products.

Microfibre or 100% cotton towels
Swirl Remover
Clay Bar
Glaze
Wax

What kind is up to you, the most popular brands seem to be Meguiars or Zaino. My question is where can I get all this stuff, I have the week off school so I think a good cleaning is in order.

[Kor]

Re: Detailing

First of all, browse through the detailing forums at vortex, they have tons of stuff there.

Detailing Forums

So I have found that if your car has clear coat, and is in fairly good condition, which I would assume covers most of the people here that you need some sort of the following products.

Microfibre or 100% cotton towels
Swirl Remover
Clay Bar
Glaze
Wax

What kind is up to you, the most popular brands seem to be Meguiars or Zaino. My question is where can I get all this stuff, I have the week off school so I think a good cleaning is in order.

I would skip the swirl remover, it didn't help my paint at all. However, clay bar, glaze and wax are all must-haves.

I buy my stuff from PartSource, they have a huge selection.

As far as I know, Zaino Bros. stuff is only available in Canada by ordering, not in stores.

[Simon]

Re: Detailing

I would skip the swirl remover, it didn't help my paint at all. However, clay bar, glaze and wax are all must-haves.

I buy my stuff from PartSource, they have a huge selection.

As far as I know, Zaino Bros. stuff is only available in Canada by ordering, not in stores.

You can buy Zaino at canadian tire, but its a cheap replica. The real stuff has to be bought online/USA

[Kor]

Re: Detailing

You can buy Zaino at canadian tire, but its a cheap replica. The real stuff has to be bought online/USA

You sure the Canadian Tire stuff isn't Zymol? They are often confused.

And Zaino Bros has a Canadian distributer now, so you don't need to order from the US... http://www.zaino.ca/

If you do want to use swirl remover, use only 3m Perfect-It. Anything else is basically crap. However, swirl removers do contain light abrasives, so watch what you're doing.

[Smartiepants]

Re: Detailing

I found a ton of stuff of my dad's in the garage, does stuff like polish and glaze go bad, cause it looks like its at least ten years old. I have litres of Meguiars Swirl Remover #9, Fine Cut Cleaner #7, Show Car Glaze #7. For wax I have Meguiars High Tech Yellow Wax #26. So I think I'll need a clay bar, probably can pick that up this afternoon. And I have to find some towels too. Hmmm partsource huh, might have to make a trip.

[Kor]

Re: Detailing

I found a ton of stuff of my dad's in the garage, does stuff like polish and glaze go bad, cause it looks like its at least ten years old. I have litres of Meguiars Swirl Remover #9, Fine Cut Cleaner #7, Show Car Glaze #7. For wax I have Meguiars High Tech Yellow Wax #26. So I think I'll need a clay bar, probably can pick that up this afternoon. And I have to find some towels too. Hmmm partsource huh, might have to make a trip.

Some stuff does go "bad" it separates into different liquids or solid particles begin to form suspended in the liquid. Sometimes just shaking the bottle will re-mix them, but other times shaking will simply distribute the particles or bubbles and it won't be the same.

I think it costs about $7 a bottle for glazes and liquid waxes, I would just buy new stuff.

The show car glaze and yellow wax are good products, although I think I will not buy liquid wax next time, and opt for a solid wax. Its not much harder to apply and does last longer.

[Smartiepants]

Re: Detailing

Hmmm may as well I guess, so the process would be:
Wash
Dry
Clay Bar
Glaze
Wax (BTW it is solid)
??

[Derick]

Re: Detailing

Nick, If you're over this weekend for mod/cruise day. I can show you the stuff I use. I scrapped Meguires in favour of Einszett and use a polish/synthetic glaze/wax routine. I buy my microfibres from ebay cuz you can get the good stuff for cheap there.

Tip - when getting microfibre, check to see if it's made in Korea. That's where the best microfibre comes from.

[Khyron]

Re: Detailing

Is anyone going to get the first spring clean professionally done? I know I have some paint chips that need filling and I think Master Touch does it. I had mine done last year by a Beyond guy and it was great, but no paint matching available.

Someone can dig up the thread from last year if they remember the title?

Khyron

[Smartiepants]

Re: Detailing

Nick, If you're over this weekend for mod/cruise day. I can show you the stuff I use. I scrapped Meguires in favour of Einszett and use a polish/synthetic glaze/wax routine. I buy my microfibres from ebay cuz you can get the good stuff for cheap there.

Tip - when getting microfibre, check to see if it's made in Korea. That's where the best microfibre comes from.

Is it this stuff?

I'm sort of hoping to get this done this week before I go back to school. Probably thursday is the magic day.

[Kor]

Re: Detailing

Hmmm may as well I guess, so the process would be:
Wash
Dry
Clay Bar
Glaze
Wax (BTW it is solid)
??

Yeah that looks good to me. Be sure that you get all the dirt and waterspots off while washing/drying otherwise they will basically be permanent.

The clay bar leaves behind a residue, so I sometimes re-wash afterwards, or use an instant detailer.

2 coats of wax is best, if you have the time and any strength left in your arms after glaze and the first wax. Usually I have neither. This year I am gonna try an electric polisher to see if that helps.

[Derick]

Re: Detailing

Is it this stuff?

I'm sort of hoping to get this done this week before I go back to school. Probably thursday is the magic day.

Yup, that's it. The Glanz Wax is some amazing stuff. I ordered mine out of colorado from Detailers Paradise....

http://www.detailersparadise.com/Splash.asp

[Smartiepants]

Re: Detailing

We have a random orbit polisher that I use on the big panels, so I only end up doing the smaller areas and edges by hand, I usually do 2 coats of wax. But I never have really done any of the other things except glaze, but that is really easy.

[Derick]

Re: Detailing

We have a random orbit polisher that I use on the big panels, so I only end up doing the smaller areas and edges by hand, I usually do 2 coats of wax. But I never have really done any of the other things except glaze, but that is really easy.

When your over. We'll do one of your fenders in Meguires #26 and another with the Einszett. You WILL see and feel the difference.

[Boy Racer]

Re: Detailing

I bought some 3M wax last year and it was by far the best wax I have used. (Believe me, I have used a lot of wax) The kicker is that the store that I bought it from doesnt carry it any more so you have to get it from a professional autobody supplier. I am working on trying to get some more together with any other detailing products they might supply.